Extension
It Starts With Us
Marketing, Diversifying, and Managing Local Agriculture
Local Foods and Sustainable Agriculture
Eric Baker, Isaac Hollon, Thays Flores
Local Food Systems
Sustainable Agriculture
Beef
Forages
Due to lower commodity prices and higher input prices, farms need to diversify and become more efficient in order to insulate against prolonged suppressed pricing.
Stabilize farm incomes using improved marketing techniques, development of a robust local food economy, and diversified enterprises.
Farmers and community members will adopt new technologies and practices based on research by land grant universities that encourage the use of local products, local marketing, practical risk management plans, and smart diversification.
Increase knowledge, and skills in production techniques, and marketing tools.
Initial Outcome: Increase knowledge, and skills in production techniques, and marketing tools.
Indicator: Use of marketing tools
Method: Inverviews
Timeline: Fall 2018
Intermediate Outcome: The adoption of new technologies to encourage local marketing.
Indicator: Increased awareness of local food systems in the local community
Method: Increased us of local food market
Timeline: Summer 2020
Long-term Outcome: Development of a robust local food economy
Indicator: stable, diverse local food market
Method: frequency of Farmers Market days and number of vendors
Timeline: Fall 2022
Audience: Farmers
Project or Activity: Crop Production Meeting
Content or Curriculum: Education
Date: Winter
Audience: Farmers
Project or Activity: Livestock Production Meetings
Content or Curriculum: Education
Date: All year
Audience: Community members/ youth
Project or Activity: Horticulture Series
Content or Curriculum:
Date: Winter/Spring
Audience: Youth/Farmers
Project or Activity: Farm Field Day
Content or Curriculum: Education
Date: Summer/Fall
Audience: Community members/ youth
Project or Activity:New Equipment and Fencing Demonstration
Content or Curriculum: Education
Date: September-May
Audience: Farmers
Project or Activity: Forage Management
Content or Curriculum: Education
Date: Winter/Spring
Audience: youth
Project or Activity: Animal Science Project Group/Clubs
Content or Curriculum: Education
Date: September-May
Audience: Community members
Project or Activity: C.A.I.P Cost Share Program
Content or Curriculum: Education
Date: All Year
Audience: Community members
Project or Activity: Farmer's Market
Content or Curriculum: Education
Date: All Year
Audience: Farmers
Project or Activity: Agriculture Marketing
Content or Curriculum: Education
Date: All year
Audience: Farmers
Project or Activity: Financial Management
Content or Curriculum: Education
Date: Winter
Audience: Farmers
Project or Activity: BQA Training
Content or Curriculum: Education
Date: Fall
Audience: Community members/ youth
Project or Activity: Forest Management
Content or Curriculum: Education
Date: All Year
Audience: Farmers/ Youth
Project or Activity:Farm Tours/ Field Days
Content or Curriculum: Education
Date: All Year
Audience: Farmers/ Youth
Project or Activity:Ag. Diversification/Sustainability Seminars
Content or Curriculum: Education
Date: All Year
Author: Eric Baker
Major Program: Beef
With the expanding U.S. beef cattle herds and more beef supply, producers are dealing with lower market prices including reduced fed-cattle futures. In this environment, producers often ask what factors impact cattle prices so they can make the best marketing decisions. In response, the University of Kentucky Cooperative Extension Agriculture/Natural Resources agent for Estill County organized a Cattle Outlook seminar for August 10, 2017. University of Kentucky Extension Livestock Marketing Econ
Author: Isaac Hilpp
Major Program: Agriculture 4-H Core Curriculum
The Estill County Extension Council identified Diversifying local agriculture as an important need in Estill County. To address this need the local 4-H Youth Development Agent developed a program to introduce youth to how Ag. policy is created and how that relates to the crops grown in Estill County. Youth attended workshops teaching basic ag policy as we as how policy moved through government. At the end of this program, youth participated in an Ag Policy trip to Washington D.C. While in DC you
Author: Eric Baker
Major Program: Forages
In the post-burley tobacco era, livestock and forage production are a major portion of the agricultural economy in Estill and Madison County. Madison County harvests 52,000 acres of hay not including alfalfa each year and Estill County harvests 8,410 acres. Most livestock producers invest significant time, machinery, infrastructure, and finances into forage production. With this investment, producers look for more efficient ways to produce more tonnage of stored forages with higher nutritional v
Author: Eric Baker
Major Program: Bees/Beekeeping
Beekeeping is a great way to further diversify the farm, or homestead. Bees can be used to make a variety of products including honey, wax, and a variety of value added products such as soaps, lotions, and many others. These products can supply additional revenue streams to small farms or homesteads. Bees are also important for their role in pollinating various crops such as vegetables, flowers, fruit trees, and others. Several research studies have also indicated that pollinator insects, includ
Author: Isaac Hilpp
Major Program: 4-H Youth Development Programming
The Estill County Agricultural Fair has been a long-standing event in the local community. Allowing youth and adults of all ages to participate and exhibit their hard work from the past year. With six livestock shows, three divisions for exhibit entries and countless displays and events it is a hallmark of community pride. SituationThe 4-H exhibits and shows had seen a steady decline from 2005 to 2013 dwindling down to less than three hundred exhibits in total. The County Fair Board, County
